Irish Ferries will reintroduce the James Joyce cruise ferry to its fleet in May 2025.
The ship that was previously known as Oscar Wilde is equipped with a capacity for 2,080 passengers, 134 cabins, and 2,380 lane meters for vehicles, including cars, coaches, and freight. I
Its top speed of 27.5 knots will make it the fastest ferry operating on the Irish Sea. ts amenities—such as duty-free shopping, restaurants, and family-friendly facilities—set a high standard for passenger comfort, ncluding a Club Class lounge, self-service and à la carte dining, and a large shopping area.
It will enter service on the Dublin / Holyhead route during May with fares starting from just €138 or £132 for a single journey with a car plus one adult.
Service with Tallink (2007–2023)
The vessel was originally built as Star for Tallink, an Estonian shipping company. It was constructed at the Aker Finnyards Helsinki Shipyard in Finland and launched on April 12, 2007. Designed as a fast Ro-Pax (roll-on/roll-off passenger) ferry, Star was tailored for year-round service on the Helsinki–Tallinn route across the Baltic Sea. Its design drew inspiration from the earlier SeaFrance Rodin, built by the same shipyard in 2001 for SeaFrance. With a sleek, modern design and a green livery intended to reflect environmental friendliness, Star was notable for being the first fast ferry capable of consistent, all-season operation on this busy Baltic route. It offered three daily departures from both Helsinki and Tallinn, with each crossing taking approximately two hours.
From its entry into service in 2007 until 2023, Star operated primarily on the Helsinki–Tallinn route for Tallink. It became a key asset in the company’s fleet, serving the high-demand shuttle service between Finland and Estonia. The ferry’s reliability and speed made it a popular choice for both passengers and freight operators. However, with the arrival of Tallink’s newer vessel, MyStar, in late 2022, Star was phased out of its original role and made available for charter.
Charter to Irish Ferries and Renaming to Oscar Wilde (2023)
On April 6, 2023, Irish Ferries announced it had secured a 20-month charter agreement for Star from Tallink, with options to extend the charter by two additional two-year periods and a potential purchase clause. Upon joining the Irish Ferries fleet, the ship was renamed Oscar Wilde—a nod to the famous Irish writer—and initially deployed on the Rosslare–Pembroke route in Ireland and Wales, replacing the chartered Blue Star 1. This marked its transition from Baltic Sea operations to the Irish Sea.
In early 2024, Oscar Wilde was redeployed to Irish Ferries’ primary routes from Dublin, serving Dublin–Holyhead (Wales) for most of the week and Dublin–Cherbourg (France) on a weekend rotation. It replaced the Norbay on the Rosslare–Pembroke route starting January 31, 2024, and began its Dublin-based services on February 11, 2024.
During this period, it was celebrated as the largest and fastest passenger cruise ferry on the Irish Sea, boasting extensive passenger facilities like restaurants, a large shopping area, a children’s play area, a Freight Driver’s Club, and a Club Class lounge.
Renaming to James Joyce (2024)
In May 2024, Irish Ferries renamed the vessel James Joyce, honouring the iconic Irish novelist. The renaming coincided with preparations for “Bloomsday” (June 16), the annual celebration of Joyce’s life and work.
This change was part of a broader fleet reshuffle by Irish Ferries, which has a tradition of naming its ships after celebrated Irish literary figures—other examples include Ulysses and W.B. Yeats. The James Joyce continued to serve the Rosslare–Pembroke route temporarily before returning to the Dublin–Holyhead and Dublin–Cherbourg routes in July 2024, partnering with the Ulysses on the central Irish Sea corridor.
Andrew Sheen Irish Ferries Managing Director shared “This new ship will be a fantastic addition to our service, offering customers the very best in terms of comfort, speed, and amenities. Along with usual advantages of ferry travel in terms of no luggage restrictions or security queues, we are confident that the James Joyce will become a firm favourite with our passengers and freight drivers, and we look forward to welcoming them on board. We are delighted to announce the return of the James Joyce to our fleet.”
